2 charged in suburban drug investigation that left 1 dead

Two men have been charged with dealing cocaine after a narcotics operation in Country Club Hills this week left one man fatally shot and four Cook County Sheriff's deputies injured.

The two men were arrested after a Markham man was shot dead by police about 1:30 p.m. Thursday when he tried to flee the scene of the incident outside a McDonald's at 167th Street and Pulaski Road, police said.

Four deputies were injured and taken to an area hospital after a police vehicle flipped over. At least two of the deputies were riding in that vehicle, sources said. The deputies were treated and released.

Nyarko Johnson, 38, of Markham was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead, said Liane Jackson, spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriff's office.

Jackson also said three other suspects were taken into police custody on Thursday, but today police said only two of those arrested face charges in connection with the narcotics operation investigation.

Rafael Washington, 35, of the 16300 block of Plymouth Drive in Markham was charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine) and one count of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

The other suspect, Nathaniel Wallace, 38, of the 15300 block of Vine Avenue in Harvey, also was charged with delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, police said.

The case against Wallace and Washington is currently under review and additional evidence may be presented to the state's attorney's office, at which time they both may face additional charges, police said.

Bail for Wallace was set at $200,000 today, along with a $3,000 bail for an outstanding warrant out of Grundy County. Bail was set for Washington at $500,000, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office.